AQW 12113/22-27 Written question to the Minister of Health
To ask the Minister of Health to detail the (i) process; and (ii) criteria used to allocate car parking passes for staff at hospital sites.
Asked by Kate Nicholl MLA on 17 May 2024
- Answered
- Written
- Tabled
- 17 May 2024
- Answer due by
- 4 June 2024
- Answered
- 28 May 202411 days after tabling
- Department
- Department of Health
- Priority question
- No
Answer
Process
Three of the HSCNI Trusts do not operate staff parking permit or application processes; Western Health and Social Care Trust (WHSCT); Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) and Northern Health and Social Care Trust (NHSCT). These Trusts have free car parking available for staff which operates on a first come, first served basis. However, they have advised that an application process based on need is under consideration.
The remaining three Trusts have an application process in place; Southern Health and Social Care Trust (SHSCT); South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust (SEHSCT) and Belfast Health and Social Care Trust (BHSCT).
A summary of the process in place used to allocate car parking spaces is outlined below as advised by Trust:-
| HSC Trust | Current Process |
| 1.NHSCT 2.NIAS 3.WHSCT | No allocation or application process, free car parking provided for all staff on a first come, first served basis. |
| 4.SHSCT | An application process in in place based on a first come, first served basis. A waiting list is held. |
| 5.BHSCT | A new application process has been introduced on a phased basis using criterion to assess demonstrable need. |
| 6.SEHSCT | An application system is in place using criterion to assess demonstrable need. |
Criteria
SHSCT allocate staff car parking permits on receipt of a written application on a first come, first served basis and formulate a waiting list until spaces are available.
SEHSCT has four eligibility criteria as advised and outlined below:-
| No. | Assessment Criteria | Example |
| 1 | Automatic Entitlement | Blue Badge holder |
| 2 | Sustainability Considerations | Distance from home to base |
| 3 | Conditions of Employment | Unsocial shift pattern |
| 4 | Personal or Professional Extenuating Circumstances | Section 75 Category |
BHSCT has ten eligibility criteria as advised and outlined below:-
| No. | Assessment Criteria |
| 1 | Disability (holders of a blue badge)* |
| 2 | Perm. night duty/evening (from 4pm onwards)/w/end working* |
| 3 | Required to use private vehicle on a daily basis to directly deliver patient or client care (i.e. Community Health Visitor/District Nurse/ Midwife/Social Worker) |
| 4 | Carry out shift working as a requirement of post and set rota (scheduled to reg. start before 7:30am or finish after 7:30pm) |
| 5 | Manage Services on more than 1 site (responsible for managing staff on other Trust sites) |
| 6 | Provide services/clinics on more than 1 site (with a frequency of 1 or more times per month) |
| 7 | A public transport journey that involves one or more changes, and exceeds 1 hour of a commute. *Added bonus point of 1 point for every 10 miles from home address to base site up to maximum of 4 points for those staff that live 40 miles+. Zero bonus points for anyone who lives under 10 miles from home to base. |
| 8 | Parent/Guardian/Carer that uses car to transport children or provide caring responsibilities on way to or from base site and public transport is not a viable option |
| 9 | Registered car sharer who is actively sharing on a daily basis. (to inc. BHSCT staff family members within same household.) |
| 10 | Required to participate on a scheduled rota for on-call on a regular basis. |